Answered questions

To create jobs to turn this economy around, balance the federal budget while protecting Social Security & Medicare, become energy independent, control our borders, pursue a robust space program as a matter of national security, economic security & the survival of our species, protect our natural resources and to support our troops – past & present.

The greatest challenge we continue to have as a nation is a lack of good jobs for the American people. I continue to hear from constituents who are concerned about our economy, and from employers who are over-burdened by excessive federal regulations and expensive mandates. With workforce participation at a 36 year low, I think the greatest challenge we have is creating more jobs and economic opportunities and I am working to reduce Washington’s impediments so that we can build a health economy.

Washington is literally churning out a mountain of regulation saddling our businesses - both big and small - with unnecessary red tape, added costs and more uncertainty. The U.S. Small Business Administration estimates the annual regulatory compliance cost to be about $10,000 per employee. And, we continue to have the highest corporate tax rate in the world.

Washington continues to hold back our economic potential just when our fellow Americans need it the most. This must change if we want American businesses to expand, entrepreneurs to take the risk of starting a new business, and if we are going to be able to compete with foreign workers. Creating a friendlier economic environment will help American businesses compete and let our paychecks go further.

Washington also needs more accountability and transparency, along with a plan to balance the budget and reduce the $17.8 trillion national debt. Here locally I have worked with local leaders to bring businesses to our communities and to build a stronger space program.

I have also focused on initiatives to improve our Indian River Lagoon. It is a great benefit to our local economy and our quality of life and it will take a holistic approach to repair and sustain it. I grew-up on the Lagoon and raised my family along the Lagoon. This part of Florida is a great treasure, and after I was laid-off from the space program, Katie and I chose to stay here, start a business and raise our family here. Over the years I've invested in our community, been a youth leader in our church, involved in civic associations, active in local efforts to support our troops, school advisory boards and youth sports teams. I’ve shared in both the good times and the hard times.

We need leaders with the experience to get things done so our children and grandchildren can have a more secure future.

I’m running because, at 32, with four kids, it’s my future and it’s my responsibility to protect my children’s future. I’m sick of watching politicians procrastinate to the brink of destruction. It’s time for planned change. It’s time for real solutions.

Congress has become a retirement home for politicians and trial attorneys. It needs youth, diversity and innovation. I’m running because I moved back to Florida to raise my kids only to find out that it’s no longer safe for them to play in the Lagoon. I’m running because I see the greatest opportunity for economic development being squandered by representation that is more concerned with protecting old money than with creating new opportunity.

I have not given much thought to a different pay system given the more important priorities referred to above in question 1. However, I don’t think Members of Congress should get an automatic pay raise, and I don’t think Congress deserves a raise in pay. Every year I’ve given back the $4,700 raise that Congress voted itself in 2008 right before I came to Washington; and I’ve cosponsored legislation and led efforts to block future raises. I’ve worked to block Congressional raises for every year since then and I voted for legislation to cut Congressional pensions. I also returned over $600,000 to the Treasury from my Congressional office budget and worked to cut Congress’ budget by an additional 20% over the last 3 years.

I think it’s too high. I believe that our federal legislators need a better understanding of what working Americans live like. These days, to get to Washington, you either need to have been in state politics for over a decade or you need to be independently wealthy already. In either case, it’s rare for anyone who understands what it’s like for the working class to even get their name in the general election.

If Washington is serious about keeping the promises that were made to America’s senior citizens then Congress and the Administration need to take action soon to secure these earned retirement benefits.

In the five years that I have served in Congress, there has been no proposal considered to change Social Security, except by the Obama Administration to change the annual cost of living adjustment to use the “Chained CPI”, which would have reduced benefits, and I opposed that. The best thing we can do to secure the solvency of Social Security is to see a more robust economy. Today, we have the lowest workforce participation rate in more than 30 years. The best and most important thing we can do for Social Security is to enact policies that lead to stronger economic growth. As more Americans return to the workforce and as they earn a larger paycheck, then more taxes will be paid into Social Security as payroll taxes. This will play a large role in closing the monthly gap between Social Security tax revenue and Social Security expenses.

With regard to Medicare I believe that we need to protect the current program for all Americans and that means no changes for those at or near the age of retirement (age 55). Both the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office and the Medicare Actuary estimate that if no changes are made, Medicare will be unable to pay full benefits within a decade. Given this reality, changes will come to Medicare if we do nothing as Medicare will be unable to pay all of the incoming bills a decade from now. To do nothing is not a solution. I believe it is more responsible to act to protect Medicare for current and future beneficiaries rather than simply let the clock run out.

The approach I favor is to make no changes for current seniors or for those approaching retirement (age 55 and older). The reforms that I favor would allow future retirees (those under age 55) to choose to stay in traditional Medicare or select from a wider variety of plans offered through Medicare – much like federal retirees choose from today. Under this plan, if you want to stay in the current Medicare system, that’s your choice. If you would like to shop around and get a plan that better suits your needs, then there would be additional choices – similar to choices made by over one-in-four seniors who have already chosen a Medicare Advantage plan.

There is too much waste and fraud in the current Medicare system and eliminating that must be higher priority. I also think allowing wealthier Americans the ability to opt-out of Medicare will save precious resources.

It’s true that Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlements are consistently consuming a larger part of the Federal budget. And I do acknowledge that as the portion of seniors in the population, along with increases in lifespan, there is an added urgency to address this now.

In the case of Social Security, the Trust Fund currently still has close to two decades before it will not be able to pay expected benefits. By law, the Trust Fund cannot make up for this difference by borrowing money from other areas of the budget. However, for years members of Congress from both parties have raided the Trust Fund in order to fund pet projects. This is a practice that never should have been started, and I will support efforts to end it. In addition, I am in favor of raising the ceiling on income subject to Social Security taxes. However, raising the tax every year is not sustainable. That's why we need economic policy that can help the middle class grow, which will increase revenue into the fund. I am against any immediate increases in retirement age. I know people are living longer, but for many laboring workers their bodies begin to deteriorate in their late 60’s anyway.

In my view, Medicare’s biggest problem is the increasing cost of healthcare coverage in America. The answer to this problem is not privatization. The answer is to continue to reduce unnecessary tests, procedures, and administrative costs. To be clear this does not mean cutting coverage.

Entitlements provide services important to most Americans and they should be protected. However, we do need policies that help maintain costs while allowing the economy to grow. One potential solution to this is sensible immigration reform. If we allow the some 11 million undocumented immigrants who are already working in America, but not paying taxes, a pathway to citizenship, that will help lower the deficit. And in the future when the American economy is growing at a faster rate, allowing more opportunities for legal immigration from other countries could have the same positive affect.

I have always supported a diversified, all of the above energy policy that places less dependence on foreign, often hostile nations, and more reliance on our own American energy resources. We need both short-term and long-term solutions for energy production. I voted for a number of House-passed initiatives that open-up America’s energy resources, creating thousands of jobs. Sadly, as the price of gas continues to remain high the Senate refuses to act on these bills.

I support increased drilling for oil and natural gas – so much of our economy is dependent on these resources for fuel. High gas prices rob our families of needed income and send even more money to Middle East nation’s that don’t have our best interest in mind. In the long-term, we should continue to invest in solar, wind, nuclear power, and other alternatives as a means to diversify our energy supplies. But, we also need to have a better focus on meeting our near-term needs, and developing our own fossil fuels is the key to near term affordable energy and greater energy independence.

If drilling occurs off the coast of Louisiana, Texas, Mexico or Cuba, then drilling is occurring off the coast of Florida. Clearly, we must do everything possible to ensure offshore drilling is as safe as it can be and the reality is that we drilled off of this coast for decades without any serious adverse events. We have learned that we must use safe drilling methods and the good news is we can do that. So, yes we should allow off-shore drilling off the coast of Florida and with the new improved drilling methods and greater accountability; we can do this in a way that ensures that drilling takes place far enough off shore to be out of the line of sight. We already have drilling off of Florida’s waters in Cuba. So it’s not really a question of whether we will have drilling off of our coast but rather, will we be doing it or will Cuba?

On another note, I voted against the $2 trillion Cap and Trade/National Energy Tax that was proposed by President Obama and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi. With the economy continuing to struggle, the last thing we want to do is to make energy, and just about the cost of everything else in this country, even more expensive. It is lower energy costs in recent years – derived largely from private lands – that has given U.S. manufacturers a boost. The President said under his Cap and Trade proposal that energy bills would necessarily sky rocket. That would put a damper on U.S. manufacturing and is another reason I’m opposed to it. Since his bill failed to pass the Congress, he has tried to implement much of it through the EPA and it has been a constant drag on the economy.

I do not support drilling off the coast, or any further development of fossil fuels for energy production. The markets are trying to tell us that incinerating non-renewable resources, better used for material production, is increasingly unfavorable to the consumer.

Here in Florida, we should be the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy. Between tourism and a state-owned renewable power utility, Florida can have the best schools, the most advanced transit system, and robust funding for art and culture. I will be a strong voice for renewable energy. While we cannot expect to transition to renewable energy right away, Congress can continue to provide the tax incentives that make transitioning to renewable’s affordable and even profitable.

But let’s be clear, for renewable energy to become reality, we need elected officials to lead the way. That will only happen if the people demand it.

The President has overseen the largest expansion of government in our nation’s history over the past five years. He has also failed to join with Congressional Republicans to seek to control federal spending and has consistently been two months late, beyond the statuary deadline, for completing his budget. Under his Administration a gallon of gas has remained on average nearly $1.50 more per gallon than the price it was on the day he took office. Middle Class incomes have fallen by more than $4,500 per family over the last four years. The national debt has climbed by nearly $7 trillion. The American people were promised that health care costs would decline by $2,500 per family in his first four years, yet they are up over $3,000 per family. The mountain of regulations is at a pace of more than 4,000 new regulations each year. I’m disappointed to say the least. I believe the American people can do better and I believe they deserve better.

Don’t judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes. President Obama has had the most obstructive and least effective Congress in the history of the United States. Even the “Do Nothing Congress” under Harry Truman was exponentially more effective than the three Congresses our President has had to work with. I was never as fanatically one way or the other for Obama, so I didn’t have an expectation to upset. Most people, however, did develop some extreme reaction, from which many are disappointed.

Considering the epic failure of the administration he was following, plus the ‘just say no’ mentality of the Republican led house, President Obama has achieved amazing success. I don’t agree with some of his policies, but I do agree with the President that solving our problems will take all Americans working together. President Obama has tried to achieve great things for our country, they just haven’t been the things that Congress has been willing to cooperate on.

You may recall that that while serving in the Florida Legislature I was credited with stopping a bill that would have allowed Florida’s Sunshine Law to sunset.
I am committed to government in the sunshine and believe we need much, much greater transparency and accountability in the way that Congress and the Administration conduct its business.

Unfortunately, Congress does not have the same kind of Sunshine Law as our State Legislature. In Congress I introduced legislation to require a “72 hour period of public availability” before bills can be brought to the floor for a vote. After four years of fighting for it, my bill was incorporated into the House rules as a three-day rule. I believe the American public and Members of Congress should have the opportunity to read and debate legislation before it possibly becomes law.

I also was successful in passing a rule change in the Financial Services Committee requiring full and timely disclosure of committee votes, which had previously not been a matter of public record.

Florida’s “sunshine laws” are great in theory, but often times reality does not follow the intent. I fully support open-records and transparency, especially as that would enlighten the public on how their representatives are spending their time, and taxpayer money. In Congress I will never vote for legislation that would make it easier for members to hide things. I will make every effort I can to explain why I voted a certain way, and how people I’ve met in and out of the office impacted that process.

I have been an advocate for funding the CERP and authorizing the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), which will help us, end discharges into the Lagoon from Lake Okeechobee. I cosponsored Rep. Corrine Brown’s amendment to this year’s Water Resources and Development Act to authorize the CEPP projects. We also have been working as a delegation to encourage the Corps to complete their chief’s report on the CEPP, which will enable it to be fully authorized.

As for the lagoon, I grew up on the Lagoon and chose to raise my family on the Lagoon. And I have always been committed to protecting it. In 2010, during my first term in Congress I voted to reauthorize the National Estuary Program (NEP) and I am an original cosponsor of the current reauthorization.

I also introduced bipartisan legislation to increase the funding available to estuaries like our Lagoon that have critical needs. This bill recently passed the House Transportation Committee and is awaiting House floor action. Furthermore, I helped shepherd bipartisan legislation through the House to further research algae blooms and hypoxia events. This legislation was signed into law in June 2014.

In addition, I actively supported funding the Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue program. The Administration’s budget made deep cuts to this program and I have helped lead the effort to restore that funding and help extend important volunteer programs for our wild life refuges. Prescott funding matches local dollars here in District 8 to support manatee, dolphin, whale and turtle rescue efforts.

I do support the Rivers Coalition. The water quality issues we have in Florida are not a federal issue; they are an issue that the state and the people of Florida must address in their legislature and in their lifestyles. I will happily fight to get as much federal money and help as I can, once Florida’s leaders show they are willing to take environmental responsibility seriously. Federal funding and legislation actually already exist to solve these problems, but we must have responsible leadership in state government to make it happen..

I think it’s critical to have a performance-based pay scale for public sector employees where applicable. Many forget that government employment, at any level, is a form of service. Performance pay is one way to hold government accountable while ensuring that Americans get the quality of service that they expect and pay for. Creating incentives for government employees to work harder will help eliminate some of the complacency that plagues many of our government institutions. Certainly there are many hardworking government employees and their hard work should be rewarded and encouraged in others. Ultimately, taxpayers deserve to have a government that works for them and not the other way around.

I believe that inflation and the cost of living should not be taken out on the working class. The lowest wages should raise annually to account for these. Otherwise, wage increases should be merit/production-based and are ultimately a negotiation between employees and employer. The government should only step in when one party begins to exploit the other.

Our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. The first step in fixing our immigration system is to secure our borders and ports of entry, and maintain operational control over them.

It has been more than a dozen years after 9-11 and a reliable entry/exit system still has not been put in place as recommended by the 9-11 commission. In 2011, about 55% of deportations were of criminals. Almost half of them were repeat border crossers. We need a system that prevents criminals from getting across the border in the first place.

I also believe the federal government should enforce the laws we already have on the books. Failure to do so raises serious questions about the federal governments ability to implement and enforce any new reforms that are made to our immigration system.

I understand the plight of those who find themselves in the U.S. illegally through no fault of their own, we also have millions who willfully entered illegally or violated the terms of their visa, and we have millions of immigrants going through legal channels to become U.S. citizens. Granting blanket Amnesty tells millions of law-abiding immigrants to ignore the law and I don’t think that’s the message we want to send.

Furthermore, I have read the Senate immigration bill, it’s more complicated than the health care bill and I oppose it. The Congressional Budget Office reports that the Senate bill would only decrease illegal immigration by 25% while granting legal status to around as many as 10 million already here illegally. If the Senate bill passes, we will be right back to where we are today wondering what to do with another 5 million illegal immigrants. We need secure borders first and then we can address the other issues.

We also have tens of millions of Americans still out of work or underemployed and we need to understand what impact any reform has on them. The CBO report says that the Senate bill will result in lower wages for lower income Americans for a decade. This would have serious economic repercussions.

There are two different issues here: illegals who immigrate, and immigrants who are illegal. For the former, we need to hold our neighbors more accountable. For the latter, we must find a more Christ-like and compassionate stance. There is no environmentally-friendly, humanitarian and cost-effective method of “securing” our border with Mexico.

There is only one way to solve ‘illegal immigration,’ and that is to make immigrating legal. We need to provide a legal framework for people seeking to come to America that includes more opportunity. Let them peacefully register at the border and follow a probationary citizenship or work visa. I believe it is important that we impose steep tariffs on money exportation, thereby discouraging immigrants who are here to take money out of our communities, and encouraging those immigrants who are coming to be assimilated into American society.

I support reforming our tax code and have cosponsored numerous bills to make it fair and simple for American workers, their families and American businesses. America has the highest corporate tax rate, which I believe deters many businesses from incorporating here and costs us jobs and needed revenue, especially for our state and local communities.

I have also been a strong advocate of allowing those living in states like Florida, without a state income tax, to have a sales tax deduction.

Ultimately, Washington desperately needs to add more taxpayers to the rolls and you do that through private sector job creation. Having a tax code that encourages economic growth is necessary to create a more competitive, business friendly environment.

Taxes pay for important services to the poor and middle class in this country. Programs like children's health insurance, affordable college tuition, and Social Security all come from taxes. There are some who want to cut taxes to all, especially the rich, even if that means cutting these important services. This may help some of the rich get richer, but the best way to grow the economy is to help grow the middle class, and cutting services will hurt this. We need to focus on eliminating wasteful spending, implementing tax cuts that create a surplus of economic growth, and asking the rich to pay a little bit more so that we can all move forward together.

I think the health care law should be repealed and replaced. It has fallen short of its promise to lower health care costs for most Americans and I continue to hear from many constituents who have been adversely impacted by the reforms that were rammed through on a party-line vote under then-Speaker Pelosi. There are also nearly as many uninsured Americans today as there were before the new law was passed.

Americans were told that the health care law would lower premiums by $2500 per family by the end of 2012. That has not happened and most Americans have seen the cost of their health insurance rise dramatically. The Washington Post reported earlier this year that premiums for small businesses have increased by 95% over the past five years, with monthly premiums growing from and average of $590/employee in 2009 to more than $1,121 in 2014.

Millions of Americans, including many in our community, have lost their current plans, have had their rates increased dramatically, lost work hours and have lost access to their doctors. These rising health care costs contribute to the middle class economic squeeze.

Furthermore, the Federal Reserve of New York recently released a survey asking businesses how the health care law was affecting their businesses and most answered that it was making harder for them to provide health benefits and many saying they were enacting cost saving measures like cutting back on work hours and benefits. We need to change this.

No one thought our health care system was perfect before the President’s new health care law. In fact, when I met with HHS Secretary Sibelius, I suggested that we work together on three issues that we all agreed needed immediate attention: (1) prohibiting insurance companies from kicking people off their insurance when they get sick (2) allowing young people to stay on their parent’s insurance longer and (3) ensuring that those with pre-existing conditions have access to Medicaid for a premium NOT based on their pre-existing conditions. That premium would have a sliding scale based upon income. You don’t need 2000 pages to do those things. She told me that the Administration did not want to do that – period. Instead they wrote their bill behind closed doors and permitted no amendments to be offered.

I’d like to see Congress allow businesses and individuals to pool their resources together through trade associations and other affinity groups to purchase health care – tear down barriers that prevent people from buying insurance in other states. I’d like to see the federal government encourage Health Savings Accounts, a concept enjoyed by some 14 million Americans until the health care law hampered their growth and innovation. Congress could also expand the deductibility of health insurance, including a refundable tax credit for health insurance.

The government should operate an exchange for all federal and state employees, that all other citizens who have registered for selective service, and are active voters, can choose to pay into. Open market options will be available, for those who choose them, but with the cumulative buying power of all government employees behind it, the ‘citizen’s compassionate and cooperative care contract,’ all preventative, basic maintenance, no fault accident and unfortunate afflictions would be covered.

In coming years, the market for cosmetic healthcare is going to explode, and this also leaves room for liability and lifestyle health insurance markets. No citizen who chooses to take responsibility for their health and participate in the Republic would then go without necessary optical, dental and medical healthcare.

First off, I’m grateful to all our veterans for their service to our nation and I think the way some veterans were treated by officials at some of the VA hospitals was unacceptable. Those who mistreated our veterans must be held accountable. VA medical care is an earned benefit and we should keep our promise, period.

Congress also passed important legislation in the aftermath of the VA scandals to improve access to medical care for veterans by allowing them to go outside of the VA system if they encounter long waiting times. The legislation creates better educational opportunities for veterans, holds bad VA managers accountable, and hires more doctors and medical staff for our VA facilities.

Despite the low opinion Washington rates on everyone’s mind, Congress made some progress on issues important to veterans like passing a cost of living increase. Congress also passed, and the President signed into law, my bipartisan bill to recognize the Army’s 65th Infantry regiment known as the Borinqueneers with the Congressional Gold Medal.

The House-passed VA appropriations bill increases funding for the VA by 7%, modernizes the VA by requiring the more coordination with the Department of Defense, centralizing the mail, upgrading computers and eliminating the backlog by 2015.

This year, the House passed legislation I introduced to allow non-profit groups to send care packages to our troops through the Department of Defense on a Space Available basis. I worked with a local veterans group to bring this legislation forward. Currently, the Department of Defense will allow aid to be sent to foreign nations on a space available basis and I believe we should also provide this option for our own soldiers.

I think Washington has been ignoring the tens of millions of Americans who need jobs, or need better jobs, and can’t find one. We need better policies coming out of Washington that will create a more competitive economic environment so businesses can add more jobs. We have passed dozens of job-creation bills that just sit in the Senate awaiting action. In fact, over 350 bills that we have passed in the House are awaiting action in the Senate.

I think private sector job creation has been a low priority for this Administration and many are suffering for it. The cumulative effect of excessive regulations, expensive new health care mandates, higher taxes on growing small businesses, and too much Washington involvement in day to day life has hampered our economic growth making our economy weaker. It’s as though the Administration refuses to acknowledge that their actions have an adverse impact on our economy.

Washington has largely been ignoring the American taxpayer and the wishes of a majority of Americans by failing to protect liberty and individual freedom. Protecting liberty is important and encouraging personal responsibility is a priority. I am often told by my constituents that they simply want to be left alone to live their lives without as much involvement from the federal government. I respect that and believe that they should have more liberty. When the Administration gets it wrong I oppose their actions. Likewise, when Congressional leaders get it wrong I oppose their initiatives.

I am a cosponsor of the Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the Constitution and fought for its passage. In 2011 when Washington debated adding another $2.4 trillion to the nation’s debt, credit ratings agencies had been advising that unless a long-term plan to control spending and balance the budget was put in place, America would lose its AAA credit rating. Washington ignored their warnings, passed the Budget Control Act, and as a result America’s credit rating was downgraded. I opposed the Budget Control Act when it passed the Congress in August 2011, because among other things, it created sequestration and it failed to include passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment.

Passing a balanced budget amendment would be positive for our nation and guarantee that the next generation inherits a prosperous future rather than the bill for the irresponsible spending practices of today. Passing the BBA will set the goal of where we need to be and will force Washington to adopt policies to get us there. If Washington doesn’t act with a plan to deal with our $17.8 trillion national debt and massive budget deficits then we will experience a similar fate as Greece and other European nations that are drowning debt and turmoil.

The first two years of his Presidency he got everything passed that he wanted, stimulus, more TARP money, health care reform, and the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. The result of that has been a shrinking workforce – it’s at 36 year low – falling household income for middle class families ($4,000), higher health insurance costs, a near doubling of gas prices (for much of his presidency), and a disastrous foreign policy that has made America less safe. Not only do I believe he deserves a failing grade, but in virtually every poll the American people give him a failing grade.

I have always held the belief that those closest to the problem are best equipped to solve it. I believe that protecting and restoring the Indian River Lagoon can best be accomplished by local, state and federal agencies working together. We each have a role to play.

Simply put, our Lagoon’s problems stem from, over the years, people having put “bad stuff” into the Lagoon and we are seeing the effects of that. First thing we need to do is stop putting harmful things into the Lagoon. Already, local ordinances and state rules (working with federal regulators) are being implemented and having an effect.

On the federal level, I have worked to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, increase funding for estuaries like our Lagoon that are experiencing critical problems, protect the Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue program and streamline funding for algae bloom research.

I also support the CEPP as I mentioned above.

Our Lagoon is a national treasure and it’s up to us to take care of it. It provides us with recreational activities, adds to the natural beauty of our communities, brings tourists, supports local businesses and provides a critical habitat for many indigenous species. It’s in our best interest to preserve it.

I am pro-life. I think whatever two consenting adults do in their bedroom is none of my business. I support the Florida Constitution - which Florida’s voters amended in 2008 to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. I support parents’ rights to home school their children.

First off, I will continue to advocate for policies that lead to a healthier economy and greater economic growth. Americans have been in an economic malaise and economic uncertainty not seen since the Carter years. I’m doing all I can to promote polices that build a strong economy.

I have been active in supporting our National Estuary Program and addressing the challenges facing our Lagoon. I grew-up on the Lagoon, raised my family along the Lagoon and I believe it contributes greatly to our quality of life and significantly to our local economy.

I will continue to work to support fiscal responsibility in Washington. If we fail to get our fiscal house in order then this and future generations will be forced to shoulder an unbearable burden.

I will continue to oppose the avalanche of federal regulations that impact the businesses that are so important to providing jobs and expanding in our communities. These regulations also impose a costly burden on our local governments who are forced to divert money away from other community needs in order to satisfy the mandates coming from Washington.

I believe that our community has a real stake in a more accountable and transparent government. I think government exists to serve people in the open and not attempt to run their lives. In my view, this is what the founders of our country had in mind when they wrote our Constitution and established our form of government. Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant.

I remain focused on turning this economy around and creating jobs. I believe Washington has been a hindrance to job creation and economic growth. Workforce participation is at a 36-year low and a record low for women in particular. Excessive regulations, high taxes coupled with a complex tax code, tamp down economic growth and it must end.

I think when government makes laws and spends taxpayer money responsibly, cuts wasteful spending and reduces the burdens of big government wherever possible, small businesses and families in our community benefit. If Washington fails to do these things then we all suffer and that undermines our future.

As a member of the Congressional Contaminated Drywall Caucus, I have joined with other Members of Congress who have constituents adversely affected by Chinese dry wall. I will also continue to support efforts to hold the manufacturers financially responsible for faulty products. I believe we may need to look toward stronger laws so that foreign manufacturers who import into the U.S. are held accountable.

In 2012, Congress passed the Drywall Safety Act, of which I was a cosponsor, and the President signed it into law. It requires labeling standards of imported drywall, requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to advance rules on imported drywall and standards for testing. It also directs the CPSC to upgrade their remediation guidance for homes that are affected.

One of my guiding principles has always been to represent my constituents as I would want to be represented. I think there’s a lot of room in Washington for accountability, for transparency and common sense solutions. Every year I return the pay raise that was passed the year before I came to Congress, I have paid for my own foreign travel, run my office under budget every year and return unused funds to the Treasury. My pledge has always been that if there is not enough time given to read a bill before the vote, my vote is automatically NO. Greater transparency and more accountability are top priorities for me.

Convincing my fellow legislators that not everything you don’t like, have emotional revulsion to, or religious objection to, is legitimate grounds to legislate against. Minimizing government begins with curbing our own desires to control the acts of others to match our own beliefs and tolerances.

I have consistently opposed taxpayer subsidized commuter rail and I am opposed to All Aboard Florida’s loan application. I have asked the Government Accountability Office to conduct its own study of the All Aboard Florida project.

Throughout this process I have been forwarding the concerns of our local leaders to the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration. I believe the impacts on “humans” must also be considered in their environmental assessment.

I have voted to repeal the health care law and numerous provisions of it. This new law was written behind closed doors and was passed on a party-line vote with no amendments allowed. I have heard from many constituents who have had their health insurance costs dramatically increase, lost their plans, lost work hours and health benefits, and have encountered problems seeing their doctors. This law has not lived up to its promise of saving families $2500 a year and certainly the President’s promise that if you like your plan you can keep it. We have as many uninsured Americans today as we did before the bill became law. It’s missed every mark.

The health care law also made deep cuts to Medicare – nearly $700 billion – and those cuts are beginning to affect Medicare Advantage. I am a cosponsor of legislation to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board which has unchecked powers to limit access to important Medicare benefits.

Furthermore, I have introduced legislation to require all federal officials responsible for implementing and enforcing the health care law to sign up for a plan under it. I believe leaders in Washington should live under the same rules they make for everybody else and have opposed exemptions for Congress.

We must do all we can to protect the American people from overseas threats. I believe it is critical that leaders in Washington have all of the facts and a credible plan in place before they send our sons and daughters to fight a war in a foreign country. I have opposed intervention in Libya, Egypt and Syria for similar reasons. We need to know who we are helping, what they hope to achieve, who the enemy is, a likelihood of success, a clear plan for victory and how to move forward afterwards.

I have long felt that the first step to protecting the American people from terrorist is to secure our borders and ports of entry, and achieve operational control over them. It’s foolish not to.

Washington’s problem is not on the revenue side of the ledger, but on the spending side. Revenues have never been higher, and spending has never been higher.

There was a proposal to reduce the national debt that required one new dollar in tax revenue for every ten dollars of debt reduction, which I thought was worthy of consideration.

And some people considered my legislation to eliminate the sales tax deduction on stadium sky boxes (they should pay the same taxes as folks in less expensive seats) to be a tax increase.

I favor reforming the tax code so it is more fair and simpler for all Americans and with no net tax increase. I think if Washington wants to raise more revenue, it should look at ways of creating more jobs so that more Americans can go back to work and become taxpayers. Right now workforce participation is at a 36-year low. Millions of Americans who are of working age are unable to find a good job and thus are not able to pay taxes.

In 2004 Florida voters approved a Constitutional Amendment to automatically increase the state minimum wage every year to keep up with inflation. I do not believe Washington should overrule Florida voters. Furthermore, I believe that Washington should focus on creating more economic opportunities that generate good paying jobs that families can actually survive on. I’d like to see workers make more than $10 an hour and if we build a stronger more robust economy, they will.

The House has passed over 40 pieces of legislation to create jobs and get this economy moving again. Another 350 House-passed bills are awaiting Senate action. The House passed a budget again this year, as it has every year. The Senate did not. The House has passed many of the annual appropriations bills. The Senate hasn’t passed a single one of the 12 annual appropriations bills since November of 2011.

Forcing last minute votes on too big to read omnibus funding bills and continuing resolutions is an irresponsible way to manage the nation’s finances and contributes to our debt and deficits. I believe there is always room for improvement and I understand why the American public holds Congress in such low esteem. I’d give the House a B and the Senate a failing grade.

I grew-up here, married my high school sweetheart and we raised our family here. As a young man I worked at the Cape during the Apollo Era, was laid-off from our space program, founded a successful small business and served my community in many civic and volunteer roles. I served on the city council, which gives me great respect for local rule.

I have shared in both the good times and the hard times. Over the years I've served my community in many ways through Kiwanis Club (President) High School Advisory Committee, Academic Club, Vocational Advisory Committee, Quarterback Club (12th Man Award), Middle School Advisory Committee, Elementary School PTA & Advisory Committees, Civic Association (LPCA President), Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, County School Board Instructional Materials Committee, Community College Better Government Study Committee, Department of Education County Relations Advisory Committee, County Mental Health Association, Civilian-Military Relations Council, American Cancer Society (director), United Methodist Church Trustee, Pastor-Parrish Relations Committee (Chairman), Methodist Youth Fellowship (leader), United Methodist Men (President), Miss Softball (coach) and Little League (coach), Financial sponsor of over 100 teams, leagues or other youth programs.

I believe my service on the city council, in the state legislature and in Congress has given me a unique understanding of how government should best serve the public and how read and write laws and make common sense public policy that works for our families and businesses.

I have worked hard throughout my life to earn your trust through my public service and community involvement.

No, I believe local, state and federal environmental authorities should be working together to address the distinct and individual needs of our various communities. Too often the “one-size-fits all” rules that are developed by federal agencies fail to consider the proactive steps that state and local communities have already taken.

I do not believe you should compromise your principles and I do believe there are many areas where Members of Congress can find common ground and work together to advance common sense ideas and solutions. Most of the legislation that I have proposed has been bipartisan.

I introduced the Insurance Consumer Protection and Solvency Act with Rep. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) to protect consumers from having their homeowners insurance, auto insurance, or life insurance “taxed” to bail out bad bets made on Wall Street. This tax was included in the Dodd-Frank financial reform law.

I introduced the Common Sense Economic Recovery Act with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) to stop financial regulators from forcing small banks to arbitrarily classify good loans as bad loans. Small banks are the lifeblood of “main street” and we should not penalize them, or our families and small businesses for bad decisions made on Wall Street.

I introduced the Boriqueneer Gold Medal Act, which was signed into law over the summer, with Puerto Rico’s Representative Pedro Pierluisi. This bill recognizes the Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment known as the Boriqueneers with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Other bipartisan bills that I have introduced include: The Post-Mastectomy Infection Risk Reduction Act to assist breast cancer patients, The ASTEROIDS Act to help commercial space exploration, The REAL Space Act to return us to the Moon, the Vaccine Safety Study Act, The Estuary Urgent Needs Priority Program Act to help National Estuaries with critical needs like the Indian River Lagoon acquire more funding.

I believe that if the state wants to assume that role then the Corps should work with them to allow the state to assume greater control and decision-making authority over Lake Okeechobee. However, with decision making authority the state assumes greater liability as well. The decision in my view should be left to the state to decide if they want this role.